Bandar Mahkota Cheras folk to get an answer on Friday

Thursday April 17, 2008

By GEETHA KRISHNAN

ON Friday, Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents will know if their wishes would come true if the Selangor state government orders the opening of the Bandar Mahkota Cheras access road that was blocked in 2005.

This would depend on the outcome of a meeting between the Bandar Mahkota Cheras Open Access Road Committee, the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) and developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd.

Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu who met with the Bandar Mahkota Cheras Open Access Road Committee members at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam on Tuesday said he would act as an observer.

“We have asked the MHA to attend to obtain a clearer picture of the situation and to find ways to open the road,” the State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman said.

Bandar Mahkota Cheras Open Access Road Committee chairman Tan Boon Wah said Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad had assured committee members that he would help open the road.

“We cannot wait for the matter to be brought up in Parliament because the issue has dragged on for more than two years.

“The legal suit is between Grand Saga and Narajaya and does not involve the residents,” Tan explained.

Cheras-Kajang highway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd barricaded the road in October 2005 citing loss of income from toll collection and this eventually led to a legal dispute with Narajaya.

Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents are now using the access road through Bandar Sungai Long to access the highway.

Traffic congestion during peak hours is a common occurrence.